International Orange marks the first exhibition of the solo work and new collaborative projects of Ben Kelly, award-winning founder of Ben Kelly Design (BKD) London.
Kelly cemented his reputation through his design for Manchester’s legendary night-club The Haçienda, since when he has continued to produce high-profile and innovative spaces including flagship fashion stores, hotels as well as a new chain of fitness clubs.
International Orange features works inspired by The Hacienda club: a training shoe specially commissioned by Adidas; a collaborative poster with Peter Saville; and a virtual rendering of the club’s original interior created in collaboration with Morph.
The use of already existing objects, designs, techniques, and approaches from his own past, and that of others, can be seen at play in this exhibition. Kelly and his fellow collaborators have come together on projects ranging from craft to consumer product, the ready-made to the virtual. Common to these collaborative processes is an ongoing interest in design, colour and form; something evident in the work of Warhol and Duchamp, to whom Kelly pays homage in the use of images and objects pertinent to his own creative processes.
A limited-edition signed A1 digital-print designed by Ben Kelly and Peter Saville was produced especially for International Orange in an edition of 100. Copies can be purchased directly from the Stanley Picker Gallery at £45 plus P+P. Enquiries please contact picker@kingston.ac.uk
Wednesday 23 April 5.30-7pm
Ben Kelly in conversation at the Stanley Picker Gallery